CHENNAI: We live in an age where we pop medicines even if we find the slightest symptoms of any illness; especially tablets that can be bought over the counter for common cold or fever, and painkillers. So, when someone receives a message claiming that their regular medicine contains a stroke causing chemical, it’s sure to scare them.
A message that has been going viral for a while now is this: “Avoid these tablets, they are very dangerous: D-Cold, Vicks Action-500, Actified, Coldarin, Cosome, Nice, Nimulid, Cetrizet- D. They contain Phenyl Propanol-Amida (PPA), which causes strokes and are banned in the USA”. Except for Nimulid, which is taken for arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, all other tablets are regularly taken for cold, fever and allergies and are some of the most-sold tablets at any pharmacy. So it was a shocker for many users of WhatsApp to receive it. But you can relax; this is a hoax!
While it’s true that Phenyl Propanol-Amide (PPA) causes a stroke and is banned in the USA, this message is only half true. Firstly, PPA stands for Phenylpropanolamine and not Phenyl Propanol-Amide and it’s true that PPA is a common constituent in most drugs. This increases the chances of a stroke especially among younger women but experts say that the risk is extremely low. They also claim that reports have shown that among those using the PPA drugs, only a handful of cases with such an impact are reported, Therefore, these tablets can be used without any fear of risks of a stroke. However, it is advised that you take the medication with proper medical supervision and do not self-medicate for a problem you have diagnosed yourself!
When this message caused panic among people in the USA, the Food and Drug Administration in India had issued a set of guidelines that regulates the usage of these medicines, so that doctors need not worry about the safety of the medicine and prescribe them safely to their patients.